Well. Yesterday we had an appointment with Dr Feelgood to get the results of the scan after Peter had completed 9 cycles of Gemcitabine. However, on Wednesday evening we had a phone call from the Specialist Nurse at the Oncology Unit who told us that Dr Feelgood had thoroughly checked the scan, saw no evidence of tumour spread, but was a little concerned because it seemed that the stent may have partially blocked. He asked that Peter have blood tests for LFT, U & E and other bits & pieces. The nurse also said that we didn't need to attend the appointment because the scan was clear and we would be scheduled for a check up in three months time. If the blood tests showed a problem with his liver function then they would check the stent, but otherwise just keep on keeping on (as Veebee says).

So we had an unexpected day off yesterday and last night Peter went out to see friends but came home early, shivering from head to foot, and claiming to be 'absolutely freezing'. He fell into bed shaking uncontrollably, I checked his blood and temperature (both normal) and as he warmed up he began to feel better. As his temperature began to rise I gave him a couple of paracetamol and then checked his temp every hour until 2 o'clock this morning and he seemed OK, temp back to normal. Just to put our minds at rest I rang the clinic this morning, and they advised me to ring the Cancer Helpline. They took all the details, and then put us through to a doctor who asked us to attend the Ambulatory Emergency Clinic at our hospital which, bizarrely, is housed within the physiotherapy unit. (So you can get tortured by the physios while you're waiting for somebody to stuff a needle in your arm I suppose).

It seems that from what we described they suspected an infection or perhaps a blockage of the stent, and since the consequence was likely to be jaundice we couldn't co-operate fast enough. A whole armful of blood went into tubes and bottles and sinister little containers, and blood pressure, temperature and sats happened at the same time. Then a chest X-ray and an EEG. Eventually, after nearly six hours, they let us come home. The infection test results won't be available for a couple of days, his liver function test wasn't perfect but just passable, and we have to watch out for any jaundice symptoms. It's really just a case of 'wait and see'. If there are further episodes of rigors then we have to phone immediately. But meantime no heroic plumbing procedures of the Dynorod variety - which is a relief.

So it's back to square one. No really bad symptoms, no bad pain, chemo finished, just a case of seize the day and make the most of it. Because you never know what's coming next on Planet PC.

Poor Boris has been shut in all day and is Not Speaking, but I had bought some beautiful sea bass for Peter's supper and a tiny bit found its way into a little blue dish. So I THINK we're all friends again.

Hello Mo, I am very happy to hear about the scan results. The possibility of infection is worrying but it sounds like everyone has been very efficient with attending to Peter and trying to figure out what's wrong. Sometimes the stent can get unblocked by itself which is hopefully what has happened. I hope it is nothing serious and Peter can start recovering from chemo and building up strength. I am sorry to hear about your cousin. This week has been very intense with bad news about people passing. It is difficult to digest.
Wishing you a peaceful night.
X stepuha

Yesterday I wrote : "So it's back to square one. No really bad symptoms, no bad pain, chemo finished, just a case of seize the day and make the most of it. Because you never know what's coming next on Planet PC"

And how. This morning we got a phone call from the hospital to say that one of Peter's blood tests from yesterday had grown a very (quote) NASTY bacteria, and that Peter should present himself to Ward 6 to receive an armful of antibiotic. And prepare to stay in overnight.

So we packed the slippers and hospital pyjamas and the teddy, hid the creons in the clean pants, and proffered Peter's arm as instructed. (With Peter on the other end of it I hasten to add). That was at midday. While I was with him he had three different antibiotics pumped in, and he's just phoned me to say they are about to administer another two into his arm. As far as I am aware they haven't actually identified the strain of bacteria so they appear to be trying every single antibiotic in the pharmacy just in case it works. A bit like me hitting every single button on my PC when it freezes. Peter sounds very fed up on the phone; I didn't go for evening visiting, because I was there until 6 tonight, and a friend went in my stead.

Nothing really to report except that one of Peter's arms is now significantly larger than the other what with all the stuff they've pumped in and he's looking forward to a nice little visit from Mr Bogeyman to discuss replacing/reboring/replumbing the offending stent. He is complaining bitterly because they offered him soup for his supper this evening. (No, I don't know what's wrong with that, either). But at least they didn't try to dispense it through an IV drip.

So, like I say, " . . . you never know what's coming next on Planet PC"

Mo, I hope Peter is feeling better today and gets a better offer than soup! for lunch.
Joking apart at least they acted quickly, and hopefully the infection will subside quickly too, and he will soon be home again. lets us know how he's doing, don't post much now but still follow you all avidly, take care love sandrax xx

Rob hated soup and told the hospital staff. Unfortunately it hadn't been communicated to the poor lady who cheerfully asked him if he'd like some soup after his op. I cringed with embarrassment when he bellowed for the whole ward to hear, "SOUP!! I HATE SOUP!!" to be fair he was still woozy with morphine.

Hi Mo ....poor Peter one minute he's up with the brilliant scan results then wham he is laid low again by a nasty infection...the course of PC definitely doesn't run smooth. Mo sometimes when we got encouraging new at the clinic my thought when we left was " ok we are at the top of the rollercoaster how long until it goes down again"
I hope all those antibiotics start working soon and it is not long until he is home and up to his tricks again. Will keep checking in to see your updates. Lov and hugs to both and Boris he will be feeling neglected.
Elaine
Xx

He's home. Yesterday evening actually. One or two out of the thirty of so antibiotics they tried worked, and the remainder of the course can be taken, as Peter put it: "Orally, in my mouth", so we packed up the teddy and the slippers and the creons, said "Goodbye" to his cousin who was in the next bed, and went home. With one lot of antibiotics in a little box and a prescription for the other antibiotics so we had to come home via Boots which is, fortunately, open until 8pm. On a Sunday.

He is exhausted. Partly from the infection, and partly from a nice old gentleman in the ward who got up at 20 minute intervals throughout the night and tried to get into each of the other 7 (occupied) beds in turn. As it was terribly obvious that the nice old gentleman was doubly incontinent, none of the other patients was particularly keen on having him as a bed fellow, so chaos reigned throughout the night. And during the night three patients were transferred to other wards, another four were admitted, and in the morning Peter found himself in the next bed to his cousin. They haven't seen each other since they were youngsters 70 years ago, but somehow they recognised each other so each had somebody to listen to their whingeing and moaning and complaints about the weather/staff/beds/fellow patients. And then I went and spoiled it all by fetching Peter home.

I was tempted to offer him soup for his supper but thought better of it and made a sandwich out of the materials which should have constituted a nice Sunday roast dinner and bought at enormous expense on Thursday before any of this Holby City stuff started.

And the net result is that (a) the surgical team did a bit of talking to each other and decided that the blockage was not significant enough to surge, and (b) the chaps in the lab found the right combination of antibiotics to deal with the lurgy which was causing the problem. And now they've given him back to me.

It's knocked his confidence back quite badly. In Peter's world, he had finished the chemo, his scan showed no further tumour growth, Dr Feelgood was pleased so, ergo, he was "Better". Golf course here I come. And it's not like that. He's tired and tetchy, but I think that's mostly sleeplessness. And it's POURING. Really bucketing down. And we keep on getting national weather forecasts warning of heat stroke and UV rays and pollen counts. Our pollen is so soggy you couldn't count it.

So we're plodding on, and this week's excitement is an appointment at the eye clinic tomorrow, which may include an injection into Peter's eye for macular degeneration. It depends what they find when they have a look at it. About one in three visits is injection-free so I hope tomorrow's appointment is one of the lucky ones. And afterwards we are going to the garden centre to buy some 9 foot-long bamboo poles because my jasmine has elected itself Chairman of the Escape Committee and is making a bid for next door's garden and is threatening to take a clematis with it.

Boris got a present today. He likes to drink out of watering cans in the garden, (yes, I know it's stupid, but try telling him that), and today in the supermarket I spotted a child's watering can which will be perfect for him and may keep him out of the other ones.

Buying a watering can for the cat.
Funny what stress makes you do, isn't it ?
Love Mo